The Rockford IceHogs will have their first team captain since the end of the 2016–17 season. Head coach Derek King announced on Wednesday that veteran winger Kris Versteeg will serve as the IceHogs’ captain for the 2019–20 season. Additionally, King announced that Matthew Highmore, Jacob Nilsson and Tyler Sikura will serve as alternate captains.
Versteeg named IceHogs captain
Entering his 15th season as a professional, Versteeg is the eldest statesman on a young Rockford roster that will see nearly a dozen players making their first full-year debuts in professional hockey. A two-time Stanley Cup champion with the Chicago Blackhawks, Versteeg played with the IceHogs during the 2007–08 season, skating in 56 games and tallying 49 points.
🎥: "To go through all I've gone through and come to a moment like this, it's pretty emotional."
FW Kris Versteeg on being named team captain ahead of 2019-20 season. pic.twitter.com/eqczQE7HV6
— Rockford IceHogs (@goicehogs) October 2, 2019
Versteeg will serve as the 11th IceHogs captain in the AHL franchise history, the first since Jake Dowell wore the ‘C’ in 2016–17. The alternate captain group consists of a trio of veteran IceHogs forwards who have all worn the ‘A’ previously for Rockford. Highmore, Nilsson and Sikura will be relied on to lead the young roster, along with Versteeg, as the IceHogs look to capture the potential of their rookies and return to the Calder Cup Playoffs after missing the postseason last year.